1/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing Soup Kitchen There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary of the Angels. Holy Family also support a similar charity

 

 2/ Death of Homeless People in Worthing Sadly there have a number of deaths of homeless men and women on the streets in Worthing over the last few months. What can we do as individuals to bring it to the notice of the general public? May they rest in peace

 

3/  CAFOD – Campaigning works! See what you’ve achieved.  Campaigning is powerful because it addresses poverty & injustice head-on.  It tackles the root causes of poverty, not just the symptoms.  Thanks to tens of thousands of you who’ve taken part in our campaigns over the years, we’ve witnessed some historic breakthroughs.  Take action now: join our latest campaigns & sign up for email alerts.  www.cafod.org.uk/

 

4/ Parish projects we are approaching the end of our financial support to our present parish projects.

We are now looking for new projects.  We intend to continue to support projects nationally, locally and abroad. Any parishioner who knows of any that could be considered please contact a member of the Justice & Peace Group.

 

5/ LiveSimply Tip of the Week Give leather shoes a natural shine  The next time you finish eating a banana, try rubbing leather shoes with the inside of the banana peel. Then wipe and buff with a cloth for a natural shine. Provided by Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.co.uk

 

 

 

 

1/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing Soup Kitchen There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary of the Angels.  Thank you

 

 

2/ Sadly there have a number of deaths of homeless men and women on the streets in Worthing over the last few months. This may not be common knowledge but by getting it into the open individuals may ask themselves is there anything they can do about the situation?

 

3/ LIVE SIMPLY Tip of the Week. Keep the 5Rs in mind: Refuse what you do not need, Reduce what you do need, Reuse what you consume, Recycle what you cannot Refuse, Reduce or Reuse, and Rot (Compost) the rest. http://www.zerowastehome.com/about/tips/

 

 

4/ Parish projects we are approaching the end of our financial support to our present parish projects.

We are now looking for new projects.  We intend to continue to support projects nationally, locally and abroad. Any parishioner who knows of any that could be considered please contact a member of the Justice & Peace Group.

 

 

 

5/ Letter from Fr Silvester

St Faustina Community Health Center

Kapeeka- Uganda.

15/01/2024

 

Dear Friends,

Warmest greetings from the St Faustina Community Health Centre.

On behalf of the community, allow me to thank you very much for the support you have given the centre throughout the past year of 2024. We are very grateful.

 

As we start the New Year, Allow me to report on the following:

 

1. We have received five consignments of donated medical and school items from you during the past year. Two of these consignments are still in our storage. We are preparing to distribute them when all pupils are back to school during the 1st / 2nd week of February. I will be sending photos and reports on the distribution.

We sometimes receive delays in shipping but we eventually receive the items well. We are very grateful that you offer support for the shipping charges. More items of a similar nature are still much needed by the community.

 

2. We have received financial support to support our staff salaries and drugs procurement. The staff is now more up to date with their wages. In a special way parishioners have continued with the monthly support. We are very grateful.

 

3. The number of people accessing the centre has more than doubled compared to three years ago due to your support.

 

4. Due to the increase in number of children and families accessing the centre, the Government of Uganda has provided a specialist medical fridge for the storage of vaccines and a solar system to run it. This has happened because of your continued support

 

5. We started working on the issue of a “Soup Kitchen” for the malnourished and isolated elderly within the community. I received £180 from you with which I purchased some utensils. We still need assistance with the stoves and construction of a proper shed. The response in the community to the idea is overwhelming. This arrangement can fend off the development of serious ailments and even early deaths.

 

6. We still look forward for visits from your professionals who can come and offer occasional life-saving or life- enhancing interventions within our communities. This can be for example through arrangements of periodical medical camps. The centre will be much glad to host them.

 

7. I will be sending another detailed report in February after the distribution of the items currently in storage.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ

Fr Silvester K Bukenya

On behalf of the Centre.

 

 

6/ The Stand at Standing Rock – DAKOTA OIL LINE A very moving video about people standing up for their human rights https://youtu.be/4FDuqYld8C8?si=ZTUTocfv1ZDx29pQ

1/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing Soup Kitchen There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary of the Angels.  Thank you

 

 

 

2/ Sadly there have a number of deaths of homeless men and women on the streets in Worthing over the last few months. What can we do as individuals to bring it to the notice of the general public?

 

 

3/ LIVE SIMPLY Tip of the Week. Buy exclusively used clothing from charity shops, be ruthless on fit, if it fits well you’re most likely to wear it. Bring a reusable bag for your purchases.  Donate unworn or unwanted items  http://www.zerowastehome.com/about/tips/

 

 

4/ Letter from Fr Silvester

St Faustina Community Health Center

Kapeeka- Uganda.

15/01/2024

 

Dear Friends,

Warmest greetings from the St Faustina Community Health Centre.

On behalf of the community, allow me to thank you very much for the support you have given the centre throughout the past year of 2024. We are very grateful.

 

As we start the New Year, Allow me to report on the following:

 

1. We have received five consignments of donated medical and school items from you during the past year. Two of these consignments are still in our storage. We are preparing to distribute them when all pupils are back to school during the 1st / 2nd week of February. I will be sending photos and reports on the distribution.

We sometimes receive delays in shipping but we eventually receive the items well. We are very grateful that you offer support for the shipping charges. More items of a similar nature are still much needed by the community.

 

2. We have received financial support to support our staff salaries and drugs procurement. The staff is now more up to date with their wages. In a special way parishioners have continued with the monthly support. We are very grateful.

 

3. The number of people accessing the centre has more than doubled compared to three years ago due to your support.

 

4. Due to the increase in number of children and families accessing the centre, the Government of Uganda has provided a specialist medical fridge for the storage of vaccines and a solar system to run it. This has happened because of your continued support

 

5. We started working on the issue of a “Soup Kitchen” for the malnourished and isolated elderly within the community. I received £180 from you with which I purchased some utensils. We still need assistance with the stoves and construction of a proper shed. The response in the community to the idea is overwhelming. This arrangement can fend off the development of serious ailments and even early deaths.

 

6. We still look forward for visits from your professionals who can come and offer occasional life-saving or life- enhancing interventions within our communities. This can be for example through arrangements of periodical medical camps. The centre will be much glad to host them.

 

7. I will be sending another detailed report in February after the distribution of the items currently in storage.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ

Fr Silvester K Bukenya

On behalf of the Centre.

 

 

5/ From Bombs to Alternative Energy – See what can be done in this short video!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFgfenZKknM

 

 

1/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing Soup Kitchen There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary of the Angels.  Thank you

 

2/ Peace is this Sunday 19th Jan we celebrate the work Pax Christi who work tirelessly to promote;

1. Peace – based on justice and peace and a world where human rights are respected, basic needs are met and people feel safe.
2. Reconciliation – mending relationships between individuals or whole countries during & after times of violence or dispute.
3. Non-violence – a way of living and making choices that respects others, challenges what is not fair or just, and offers alternatives to violence and war.

 

They provide support & educational materials to support teachers, chaplains and youth workers in schools and colleges promoting a culture of peace in schools and amongst young people based on Christian values. They develop solidarity between those who are working non-violently for justice in our world.
White Peace Poppies and Prayer cards are available by the display board in the Mary Chapel this Sunday & there will be a 2nd collection for their work.
Please give generously.

 

3/ Meeting with Beccy Cooper MP the justice & Peace group recently met with our MP & had an excellent discussion, these are some of the questions we asked.

a/ With almost two million people using foodbanks in the UK, the highest number on record, what are your plans to tackle the cost of living crisis in our area and nationally?

b/ The UK has slashed its aid budget, turning its back on the fight against global poverty. Will you fight to restore the aid budget to 0.7% of national income, as agreed in the International Development Act, and show that we are a country committed to making the world a better place for all?

c/ Question on Gaza/Israel conflict regarding bringing about a peaceful settlement

We agreed to meet again later in the year.

 

4/ CAFOD – The Jubilee Year a recap of the last 25 years in about 4 mins: Jubilee 2025: What do you wish for? | CAFOD

 

 

5/ LIVE SIMPLY Tip of the Week. Supermarkets don’t make it easy to go totally plastic-free, but every piece of plastic avoided sends a signal. Remember though, we can collectively make a difference by changing our shopping habits, but it’s up to the government to solve plastic pollution.  From Greenpeace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing Soup Kitchen There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary of the Angels.  Thank you

 

2/On Peace Sunday 19th Jan we celebrate the work Pax Christi who work tirelessly to promote;

1. Peace – based on justice and peace and a world where human rights are respected, basic needs are met and people feel safe.
2. Reconciliation – mending relationships between individuals or whole countries during & after times of violence or dispute.
3. Non-violence – a way of living and making choices that respects others, challenges what is not fair or just, and offers alternatives to violence and war.

They provide support & educational materials to support teachers, chaplains and youth workers in schools and colleges promoting a culture of peace in schools and amongst young people based on Christian values. They develop solidarity between those who are working non-violently for justice in our world.
White Peace Poppies and Prayer cards are available by the display board in the Mary Chapel on the 19th and there will be a 2nd collection for their work.
Please give generously.

 

 

3/ Meeting with Beccy Cooper MP the justice & Peace group recently met with our MP & had an excellent discussion, these are some of the questions we asked.

a/ With almost two million people using foodbanks in the UK, the highest number on record, what are your plans to tackle the cost of living crisis in our area and nationally?

b/ The UK has slashed its aid budget, turning its back on the fight against global poverty. Will you fight to restore the aid budget to 0.7% of national income, as agreed in the International Development Act, and show that we are a country committed to making the world a better place for all?

c/ Question on Gaza/Israel conflict regarding bringing about a peaceful settlement

We agreed to meet again later in the year.

 

 

4/ CAFOD As the Jubilee year begins, we’re excited to join this journey together. Our hopes are high and we hope yours are too! Watch our brand new film to find out why we have reasons to say: ‘Do get your hopes up’.  Jubilee Year 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT!. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary of the Angels.  Thank you

 

2 Jubilee Year Start your Jubilee journey today. Grab your very own free copy of CAFOD’s Little Book of Big Hope – it’s filled to bursting with prayers, reflections and inspirational stories to help you celebrate the power of hope. It can be downloaded Read CAFOD’s Little Book of Big Hope

 

 

3/ Columban Missionaries have launched their 2024/2025 Schools Media Competition, which has the title: ‘Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope’.  Encouraging creativity and faith engagement with issues in the world today, this year’s competition welcomes both written and image entries until the 7th February 2025, with winners being announced on the 10th March 2025. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entrants and the first prize is an impressive £300. The competition is targeted at students aged between 13-18 years old. Pope Francis has decreed that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee Jubilee 2025 The theme he has chosen is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and he urges us to look for signs of hope in the world around us and work for peace and justice. For more information  http://www.columbans.co.uk

 

 

4/ Worthing Borough Council vote to endorse a call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty Many of us signed the petition during Season of Creation in August. See the report in Inside Magazine    News – Inside Publications

 

 

5/ Climate Justice & Human Rights Explained This hard-hitting video (4.5 minutes) featuring Greta Thunberg takes us from colonial times to present day showing radial injustice & oppression that’s always been around & swept under the carpet by the media  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwJAb9aAItI

 

 

 

 

1/ SHOUT! When we contemplate the Christmas story, the image of “no room at the inn” for the Holy Family stands out. SHOUT! Helps brothers and sisters for whom there is literally no room, or those who are really struggling to feed their families at Christmas. If you can spare an extra item from your festive shopping, please donate it to SHOUT!. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of both Holy Family and St Mary of the Angels. Let us ensure that all are invited, “the greatest and least”, to our Christmas celebrations. Thank you

 

2/ SHOUT Thanks to the lovely bunch of volunteers who gave their time up on Christmas Day – we managed to provide a Christmas Day dinner for 100 people. Sadly some did not make it to the venue – but we delivered Christmas Day Meals thanks to another volunteer on driving duties. There were so many people behind the scenes quite literally helping to make this happen – Thank you for giving the gift of Christmas to all of our families and children, those who would otherwise be on their own and our homeless community. Thank you!

 

3/ Columban Missionaries have launched their 2024/2025 Schools Media Competition, which has the title: ‘Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope’.  Encouraging creativity and faith engagement with issues in the world today, this year’s competition welcomes both written and image entries until the 7th February 2025, with winners being announced on the 10th March 2025. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entrants and the first prize is an impressive £300. The competition is targeted at students aged between 13-18 years old. Pope Francis has decreed that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee Jubilee 2025 The theme he has chosen is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and he urges us to look for signs of hope in the world around us and work for peace and justice. For more information  http://www.columbans.co.uk

 

4/ Live Simply Tip of the Week – Live Simply Tip of the Week  Cut down meat eating or eliminate altogether, and cut down on dairy foods, and on food waste. .

 

5/ Covenant with the Poor In 1997 Bishop Cormac signed this Diocesan Covenant with the Poor and urged parishes to look at their involvement with poverty issues and to prepare their own parish covenants. This is our Covenant from many years ago.  “We the people of St Mary of the Angels, Worthing, pledge ourselves as individuals and as a community to place concern for the poor, at home and abroad, at the centre of our Christian life”.

 

 

 

 

1/ SHOUT! When we contemplate the Christmas story, the image of “no room at the inn” for the Holy Family stands out. SHOUT! Helps brothers and sisters for whom there is literally no room, or those who are really struggling to feed their families at Christmas. If you can spare an extra item from your festive shopping, please donate it to SHOUT!. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of both Holy Family and St Mary of the Angels. Let us ensure that all are invited, “the greatest and least”, to our Christmas celebrations. Thank you

 

2/ Columban Missionaries have launched their 2024/2025 Schools Media Competition, which has the title: ‘Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope’.  Encouraging creativity and faith engagement with issues in the world today, this year’s competition welcomes both written and image entries until the 7th February 2025, with winners being announced on the 10th March 2025. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entrants and the first prize is an impressive £300. The competition is targeted at students aged between 13-18 years old. Pope Francis has decreed that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee. The theme he has chosen is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and he urges us to look for signs of hope in the world around us and work for peace and justice. For more information  http://www.columbans.co.uk

 

3/ Live Simply Tip of the Week – Get rid of the big items. There’s tons of little clutter in our lives, but if you start with the big items, you’ll simplify your life quickly and in a big way.

 

4/ Covenant with the Poor In 1997 Bishop Cormac signed this Diocesan Covenant with the Poor and urged parishes to look at their involvement with poverty issues and to prepare their own parish covenants. This is our Covenant from many years ago.  “We the people of St Mary of the Angels, Worthing, pledge ourselves as individuals and as a community to place concern for the poor, at home and abroad, at the centre of our Christian life”.

 

 

1/ SHOUT Worthing Soup Kitchen would like to thank you at St Mary of the Angels all for your support for the Food Bank at 219 Tarring Road it has been greatly appreciated. We are able to open more often and tackle food waste better in our community.  We are running half of the new premises as a charity shop – that should enable us to raise enough finances to cover the following year’s rent – as the food pantry will not make any money.  St Mary’s have been very generous with weekly donations of food & there’s a box each end of the church with a list of the items required.  Please donate what you can to help the poor & needy in our town.

 

2/ A service for Palestine  You are warmly invited to a special service at St. Mary’s Church, Goring at 6.30pm on Wed 18th December to pray for justice and peace in Palestine. The service includes, a talk “Greetings from Bethlehem”, Palestine hymns & poetry by candlelight, Christ in the rubble & prayer birds for peace. Concluding with a craft sale & refreshments, all proceeds going to support the people of Bethlehem.  All are welcome – all faiths or none

 

 

3/   During the Season of Creation many of us signed a petition asking the Government to sign up to the Fossil Fuel non Proliferation Treaty calling for new fossil fuel exploration to be stopped. The campaign is a global movement calling for a planned just transition away from fossil fuels, it is supported by countries, towns & cities, organisations and individuals across the globe. This includes a number of UK towns and cities including London, Glasgow, Brighton& Hove, Lewes and Hastings. Will Worthing be next? Next Tues 17th Dec a motion is being presented to Worthing Council asking them to endorse the call for this treaty.

What you can do to help: 1/ Join us at the demo before the meeting at Worthing Town Hall 5:45pm on Tuesday 17th December. 2/ Write to your Borough Councillor Worthing Borough Councillors asking them to support the motion at the council meeting. Every action we take will help make a difference

 

 

4/ Our Parish Project with the Columbans  The parish is supporting the Columbans this year with a £1,000 donation for their project in the Philippines where they are creating a rainforest.  See https://columbanmission.org.ph/letter-from-the-catholic-parish-of-worthing-and-lancing/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHJEcZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXhqlD-pek9p2Ygn9_YhHdoF-WOXW2bFNkOIOyiLWaRIuegpRIpFXeIm9g_aem_vpopfGkWZTcyrEhk7lInrA

Individuals can also donate to this project by adopting a tree to mark a special event such as a baptism, confirmation, wedding, Christmas or birthday gift.  Go to Special Projects – Missionary Society of St. Columban | Philippines

 

1/ SHOUT Worthing Soup Kitchen would like to thank you at St Mary of the Angels all for your support for the Food Bank at 219 Tarring Road it has been greatly appreciated. We are able to open more often and tackle food waste better in our community.  We are running half of the new premises as a charity shop – that should enable us to raise enough finances to cover the following year’s rent – as the food pantry will not make any money.  St Mary’s have been very generous with weekly donations of food & there’s a box each end of the church with a list of the items required.  Please donate what you can to help the poor & needy in our town.

 

 

2/ Fairtrade Chocolate Advent Calendars which includes a booklet with the Christmas message & activities are on sale at £5 each

 

3/ Live Simply Tip of the week – Why not buy Fairtrade Christmas presents this year. There are many items available including jewellery, clothing, confectionery & drinks.  Another idea for Christmas presents, CAFOD Christmas Catalogues, now in their 36th year are available at the back of the church.

 

4/  Columban Missionaries have launched their 2024/2025 Schools Media Competition, which has the title: ‘Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope’.  Encouraging creativity and faith engagement with issues in the world today, this year’s competition welcomes both written and image entries until the 7th February 2025, with winners being announced on the 10th March 2025. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entrants and the first prize is an impressive £300. The competition is targeted at students aged between 13-18 years old. Pope Francis has decreed that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee. The theme he has chosen is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and he urges us to look for signs of hope in the world around us and work for peace and justice. For more information  http://www.columbans.co.uk

 

 

5/ A Service for Palestine  Wed 18th Dec at 6-30pm St Mary’s Church Goring BN12 4UZ – as the world prepares to celebrate Christmas, we remember the birthplace of Jesus was Bethlehem, Palestine, where crimes against humanity are taking place.

Greetings from Bethlehem talk by Rev. Munther Isaac

Palestine hymns & poetry by candlelight

Christ in the rubble & prayer birds for peace

Palestine crafts for sale to support the people of Bethlehem

Spiced hot chocolate & mince pies for sale

All welcome